Macao court hands former lawmaker 12.5 year sentence
The conviction marks the first prosecution under the territory’s national security law, drawing scrutiny over closed-door proceedings and family access.
By Andrew Yang ·
A Macao court sentenced former pro-democracy lawmaker Au Kam San to 12 and a half years in prison on Friday. The verdict resolves the territory’s first known case under its national security law, a statute enacted in 2009 that has rarely been used until now.
The 69-year-old was found guilty of subverting state power and breaching confidentiality. The court also found him guilty of establishing contact with outside groups to commit acts that endanger national security. The ruling follows a trial held behind closed doors in September.
The prosecution argued Au spent a long period assisting hostile organizations. A court statement said he collected and shared political views intended to incite hatred against the central government. The goal, according to the court, was to undermine the country’s fundamental system. Au, a former teacher who served in the legislature for 20 years, stepped down in 2021.
Critics noted the case reflects a strict approach to dissent in Macao. The former Portuguese colony has operated as a special administrative region since 1999. It maintains its own political and legal systems and is the only Chinese city where casino gambling is legal. Major American gaming companies, including MGM Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, and Wynn Resorts, operate resorts there.
Access to the defendant remained a point of contention. Au’s daughter in London, Au Hon I, told the Associated Press that a lawyer selected by the family was barred from visiting him in prison. The family reported they could not speak with him for nearly a year. The court stated in July that Au was represented by a court-appointed lawyer whom authorities said he approved.
The judge denied an open trial to protect national security interests. This decision was requested by the Public Prosecutions Office and confirmed by the city’s national security committee. The committee is led by Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai. Au had previously served as an organizer for Macao’s commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.
